Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study
During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastf...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Nutrients |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1831 |
| _version_ | 1797532404582187008 |
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| author | Vanessa S. Sakalidis Alethea Rea Sharon L. Perrella Jacki McEachran Grace Collis Jennifer Miraudo Stuart A. Prosser Lisa Y. Gibson Desiree Silva Donna T. Geddes |
| author_facet | Vanessa S. Sakalidis Alethea Rea Sharon L. Perrella Jacki McEachran Grace Collis Jennifer Miraudo Stuart A. Prosser Lisa Y. Gibson Desiree Silva Donna T. Geddes |
| author_sort | Vanessa S. Sakalidis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower levels of family functioning, increased perceived stress, and perinatal anxiety. Longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic was associated with lower mental health wellbeing scores, while higher perceived stress scores were reported for regions with higher COVID-19 infection rates and women with perceived low milk supply. Women reported that the pandemic resulted in less pressure and more time for family bonding, while worries about the pandemic, family health, and parenting challenges were also cited. Mental health concerns of breastfeeding women appear to be exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting a critical need for access to mental health and broader family support during the pandemic. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:58:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8e63a56c64694e8390a2df3814f9f957 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:58:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nutrients |
| spelling | doaj.art-8e63a56c64694e8390a2df3814f9f9572023-11-21T21:39:24ZengMDPI AGNutrients2072-66432021-05-01136183110.3390/nu13061831Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional StudyVanessa S. Sakalidis0Alethea Rea1Sharon L. Perrella2Jacki McEachran3Grace Collis4Jennifer Miraudo5Stuart A. Prosser6Lisa Y. Gibson7Desiree Silva8Donna T. Geddes9Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, 4051 Basel, SwitzerlandMathematics and Statistics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaOne For Women, Mt Lawley, WA 6050, AustraliaOne For Women, Mt Lawley, WA 6050, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaTelethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaTelethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaSchool of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower levels of family functioning, increased perceived stress, and perinatal anxiety. Longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic was associated with lower mental health wellbeing scores, while higher perceived stress scores were reported for regions with higher COVID-19 infection rates and women with perceived low milk supply. Women reported that the pandemic resulted in less pressure and more time for family bonding, while worries about the pandemic, family health, and parenting challenges were also cited. Mental health concerns of breastfeeding women appear to be exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting a critical need for access to mental health and broader family support during the pandemic.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1831breastfeedingCOVID-19SARS-Cov-2mental healthdepressionanxiety |
| spellingShingle | Vanessa S. Sakalidis Alethea Rea Sharon L. Perrella Jacki McEachran Grace Collis Jennifer Miraudo Stuart A. Prosser Lisa Y. Gibson Desiree Silva Donna T. Geddes Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study Nutrients breastfeeding COVID-19 SARS-Cov-2 mental health depression anxiety |
| title | Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | wellbeing of breastfeeding women in australia and new zealand during the covid 19 pandemic a cross sectional study |
| topic | breastfeeding COVID-19 SARS-Cov-2 mental health depression anxiety |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/13/6/1831 |
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